Ghaggar River crosses danger mark; Patiala, Mohali villages on high alert

Officials said that the sudden rise was a matter of concern as it occurred within a few hours.

“The river can absorb water beyond the danger mark if the rise is gradual, but this spike was too sudden. The effect will be felt in the villages along Ghaggar in Ghanaur, Rajpura, and Samana areas of Patiala in the next few hours,” Pratham Gambhir, executive engineer, Drainage Department, Patiala, told The Indian Express.

Following this, the Patiala district administration has issued advisories for villages along the Ghaggar in the Ghanaur, Rajpura, and Samana sub-divisions to remain cautious. Residents have been urged to stay away from the river.

As per the advisory issued by Avikesh Gupta, Rajpura Sub-Divisional Magistrate (SDM), residents of Untsar, Nanhery, Sanjarpur, Lachhru, Kamalpur, Rampur, Saunta, Maru, and Chamru, along with nearby areas, have been asked to remain alert. For information or assistance, people can contact the flood control room at 01762-224132.

Similarly, Dudhan Sadhan SDM Kirpalveer Singh advised residents of Bhasmra, Jalahkheri, and Raju Kheri to stay vigilant, while Patiala SDM Harjot Kaur Mavi has appealed to residents of Hadhana, Pur, and Sirkapra and surrounding villages to exercise caution.

Control rooms opened

The district administration has also urged people to report any rise in water levels immediately to the control room numbers 0175-2350550 and 2358550 and avoid spreading rumours.

Punjab is already grappling with floods in over 10 districts due to heavy inflows and the release of water from Bhakra, Pong, and Ranjit Sagar dams. With Ghaggar in spate and Sukhna floodgates opened, the situation is being closely monitored in Chandigarh, Mohali, Patiala, and Sangrur. The last major flooding of the Ghaggar was reported in 2023 in these very regions.